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Pakistan troops
today opened heavy fire on at least five Indian forward posts and villages in
RS Pura and Pargwal sectors along the 191.5-km-long international border,
injuring at least five villagers, including a woman and three children.

The injured
sustained splinter injuries caused by 82 mm mortars. Two Pak Rangers were
killed in RS Pura sector in retaliatory fire by the BSF.

“Around 9 am, Pak Rangers
opened unprovoked fire using 82 mm mortars and rocket-propelled grenades on
Allah Mai De Kothe (AMK) and Kharkola posts of the BSF in RS Pura sector.
Initially, they used small arms, but soon switched over to mortars and RPGs,”
said a senior BSF officer.

“We retaliated with
equal-calibre weapons in which two Rangers were eliminated,” he added. The
heavy exchange of fire continued till 11 am, while intermittent firing went up
to 1.30 pm, he said.

The Rangers opened heavy fire,
using 82 mm mortars, on at least three BSF posts —Maljoda, Matkula and Najwal —
in Pargwal sector of Chicken Neck area in Akhnoor sub-division around 1 pm.

In Najwal village, Rangers
used 82 mm mortars to target villagers working in their fields. “Five
villagers, including a woman and three children, sustained splinter injuries
caused by mortar explosions. They were taken to the Government Medical College
and Hospital (GMCH) in Jammu,” he said.

Their condition was stated to
be out of danger, he added.

In Pargwal sector, the
exchange of fire went on till 4.30 pm. “We strongly retaliated to their
unprovoked fire in this sector as well,” the officer added.

Housing Minister Raman Bhalla,
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu and Jammu Deputy Commissioner AK Sahu
visited the injured at the GMCH, Jammu, and handed over Rs 10,000 each to them
for medical expenditure.

In what could be a
major blow to the Indian Army’s artillery purchase programme and also the
efficacy of its newly created specialised mountain strike corps, the gun maker,
contracted to supply the specialised light weight artillery guns, has announced
that it was shutting its production line in the UK, albeit after waiting for
the Ministry of Defence to decide on the matter.

The ultra light
howitzer (ULH) M777 are of 155 mm -- the same as Bofors but much lighter. These
can be transported by helicopters and placed on mountain ridges quickly. This
was supposed to be purchased by India from the US through the foreign military
sales route. The gun maker, BaE systems, produces the gun at its plant in the
UK. Since the controversy over the purchase of the Bofors erupted in late
1980s, no new artillery gun has been procured by the Army for its artillery.

The discussions
for the gun were going on for the past three years. These were at a final stage
months before India announced its new mountain strike corps in July.

The Ministry of
Defence (MoD) had raised serious objections to the purchase of 145 ULHs from
the US under an inter-governmental agreement, costing nearly $ 647 million (Rs
3,000 crore approx at today’s dollar valuation).

Besides equipping
the upcoming mountain strike corps, the guns were planned to be stationed in
the existing seven corps which India has in the Himalayas facing China and
Pakistan.

BaE Systems,
India, confirmed the stoppage of the ULH production line.

Dean McCumiskey,
Managing Director and Chief Executive, BAE Systems in India, said: “We
recognise that the discussions between the US Government and the Government of
India for purchase of howitzers have not concluded within the extended offer
expiry date of October 15”. The company is ready to support consultations
between the US and India, he said. October 15 was the final deadline set by the
US congressional notification.

The company’s
existing orders are nearing completion and it has said it can no longer
continue to maintain the same level of staffing meaning thereby it was stalling
production.

The delay had been
caused after Defence Minister AK Antony ordered a probe to look into an alleged
irregularity in conduct of trials of the gun. A technical panel has been tasked
with examining all the complaints relating to the procurement.

Lighter than
Bofors

* The ultra light
howitzer (ULH) M777s are of 155 mm -- the same as Bofors (see pic) but much
lighter.

* These can be
transported by helicopters and quickly placed on mountain ridges.

* The guns were
planned to be stationed in all the seven corps in the Himalayas facing China
and Pakistan.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131018/nation.htm#5

Cabinet defers decision on easing visa norms
for Chinese

New Delhi, October
17

The government
today deferred a decision on liberalisation of visa norms for Chinese
nationals, which was expected to be on the agenda of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh during his visit to Beijing next week.

Sources said the
Cabinet today deferred a decision on easing visa norms for Chinese nationals,
especially those travelling for business purposes.

The Cabinet
proposal sought to liberalise the policy due to expansion in trade between the
two countries and subsequent increase in visits by Chinese businessmen. These visitors
belong mainly to the Information Technology (IT) and infrastructure sectors.

The government
intends to revisit the 2003 protocol in the wake of a substantial increase in
visits by Chinese nationals, which has led to jump in FDI inflows and involvement
of that country in infrastructure projects here.

Manmohan Singh
will reach Beijing on October 22 and the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with China on this issue was supposed to be on his agenda.

The Cabinet was
expected to consider this proposal in the meeting today. The present policy
requires a mandatory two-month gap between exit and re-entry for tourist visas.
Government had plans to change this rule as well.

However, the long
term business visa will be available to regular visitors for only a three month
stay in the first instance. — PTI

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131018/nation.htm#6

Foreign training for NSG to improve
preparedness

Shaurya Karanbir
Gurung/TNS

New Delhi, October
17

To improve its
operational preparedness in counter-terrorism and anti-hijacking situations,
India’s National Security Guard (NSG) is modernising its force with the latest
surveillance and communication equipments and is also training its commandos
with the Special Forces of different countries, said the NSG Director-General.

The developments
were shared on the sidelines of the NSG’s 29th Raising Day yesterday. Force’s
Director-General, Arvind Ranjan, also said that in view of the increasing
number of IED blasts occurring across the country, the NSG’s experts are
guiding and advising the instructors of the bomb disposal squads of different
states in IED management. These instructors would then further train their own
bomb squads.

The NSG, also
known as ‘The Black Cats’, is a federal contingency force raised in 1985 to
tackle terrorist attacks in the country. Enhancing the skills of its commandos,
the NSG sent 17 of them to train with the Special Forces of different
countries, including the United States, France and Israel, according to the DG.

The force will
also conduct ‘personality profiling tests’ of its commandos. “In this test we
will study the profiles of each commando. We will see what they are good at.
Some may be good at firing, while others will be skilled in efficiently
rappelling down from a hovering chopper. And using the test we will place
commandos having varied skills in all our hits (teams of commandos). So that
the hits are balanced,” said Arvind Ranjan. A hit comprises six commandos.

The NSG is also in
the process of procuring high-tech surveillance and communication equipments.
The force will also have ‘tactical extraction platforms’, which are nets
hanging from the rear end of helicopters. At a time, 10 commandos can hang on
such a net and be evacuated from high-rise buildings and hostile environments,
according to Ranjan.

“We are focusing on improving
the operational preparedness of our commandos. We are not just procuring the
latest equipments and gadgets. But we are also training our commandos,” said
the DG.

Modernising force

The NSG has sent 17 commandos to train with
the Special Forces of different countries, including the United States, France
and Israel

The NSG is in the process of procuring
high-tech surveillance and communication equipment

The force will also conduct 'personality
profiling tests' of its commandos

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=813942

India, China to
Sign Border Defence Agreement

India and China
will sign a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement during Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's visit next week under which no tailing of each other's patrols and no
shooting at each other under any conditions by troops have been provided.

The BDCA was
cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security today as part of further CBMs to
avoid incidents along the Line of Actual Control which has seen many intrusions
from the Chinese side, especially the long face-off during summer in Depsang
Valley of Ladakh.

The BDCA also
provides for setting up of a hotline between the DGMOs of the two countries on
the lines of the mechanism India has with Pakistan.

The sources said
the issue is yet to be formalised with Beijing which has maintained that China
does not have the institution of Director General of Military Operations.

"We are
trying to do it. We hope we will do (the agreement on) three and four,"
official sources said on the likelihood of signing an agreement in regard to
the two new reactors being set up in the Russian-aided project during Singh's
visit.

On the China
visit, the sources said Beijing wants a stable, strong and mutually beneficial
relationship with India and both want peace and tranquillity on the border.

The prime minister
will be hosted a dinner by the new President Xi Jinpeng, a rare gesture being
made probably for the first time after what was offered to the late Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954.

Singh will have a
meeting with his counter Li Keqiang when India is likely to talk about steps
for additional Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in place to maintain peace
on the border.

"We want
People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be involved in the process," the sources
said.

On the boundary
question, the two countries have agreed on a framework agreement which is a
three-step progress. "We have made some progress on the framework agreement."

Over time, India
has agreed with China that respect of Line of Actual Control, status quo and
mutually and equal security should govern the bilateral relations.

On water dispute,
India believes that China was not impounding water in the Brahmaputra.

On the signing of
the BDCA during the visit, the sources said "we are trying to get the
agreement signed."

India and China
have held several discussions on the BDCA in the past but after the intrusion
by Chinese troops in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir in April, movement
on the proposed pact gathered steam.

During Defence
Minister AK Antony's recent visit to China, the two sides had agreed to
conclude negotiations on the pact at an early date.

Following Antony's
talks with Chinese leaders, the two sides agreed on a slew of confidence
building measures, including having greater frequency of meetings along the
border and increased exchange of visits of both young and senior armed forces
officials.

India and China
have also agreed to hold their Army-to- Army exercise next month in China's
Chengdu military region.

The two countries
have also agreed to further strengthen the existing agreements and protocols
and emphasised the importance of enhancing mutual trust and understanding
between the two militaries for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the
border.

Jammu: Another
ceasefire violation by Pakistan took place on Thursday in the RS Pura sector in
Jammu. Heavy firing is currently on between BSF and Pakistan Rangers. This is
the 6th violation in 48 hours. Earlier on Tuesday, an Army jawan was killed
when Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian forward posts in Balakote
sub-sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. Indian troops
retaliated and heavy exchange of fire continued several hours after the firing
that started at 5:30 PM from across the border, a Defence spokesman said on
Tuesday. The jawan, who died after being hit by a mortar shell at a Forward
Defence Location, was identified as Lance Naik MS Khan of 15 Bihar regiment,
the spokesman said.

Pakistani Army had
resorted to shelling of mortars besides automatic and small arms firing in
forward areas along LoC in Hamirpur and Bhimbher Gali (BG) sub-sectors of
Poonch district from 06:30 am on Tuesday. Indian troops guarding the border
took positions and retaliated strongly with equal calibre weapons, triggering
exchanges which continued intermittently, he said. "There was no loss of
life or injury to anyone in the firing and shelling by Pakistan along LoC on
this side," he added. Pakistani troops resorted to firing from 10:25 pm
late on Monday night, the spokesman said, adding, Indian troops gave an equal
calibrated retaliation triggering exchanges till 11:35 pm. "There was no
loss of life or injury to anyone in Pak firing on this side", the spokesman
said. Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, Constable M Basu was injured when
Pakistani troops resorted to firing on Katav Border Out Post (BoP) along the
International Border (IB) in Samba district on Monday. On October 12, Pakistani
Army troops resorted to firing of mortar shells, automatic and small arms
firing in forward areas along LoC in Bharasingha and Mendhar battalion forward
areas in Krishna Gati and Bhimber Gali sub-sector of Poonch. On 11 October,
Pakistani Army troops resorted to shelling of 82 mm mortars besides automatic
and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Barasingha, Mendhar and
Hamirpur sub-sectors of Poonch district forcing Indian troops to retaliate.